Review: ‘Deaf Santa Claus’ is an Uplifting Look at Passion and Representation

The impact of a child seeing themselves represented is something so profound that it can’t be measured, and those accustomed to always experiencing it will surely find it difficult to imagine what it would be like if that wasn’t the case. There are so many instances where it might not seem important for someone to be able to recognize pieces of themselves in someone they look up to, but it very much is. Deaf Santa Claus showcases someone who, for a small but significant percentage of the population, fulfills a critical role in catering to the youthful imagination.

Charles Graves sports a bushy white beard and a physique that might lead many to believe that he has more than a passing resemblance to the mythical Christmas superhero. He’s always enjoyed dressing up and working as Santa Claus, but now he’s finally pulling out all the stops to officially become a professional. The road there isn’t easy, given that some people don’t see the reason that the world needs a Deaf Santa Claus and Graves and his wife need to pull from their savings to be able to afford the accoutrements and materials necessary to properly do the job. But Graves is determined, and there’s little that’s going to stop him from achieving this dream.

This film, which comes from directing duo Anthony Mowl and Ben Shelton, is naturally heartwarming. Graves is an endearing figure who has a true joy for what he does, and it’s easy to love someone who just wants to make children happy. But, as this documentary shows, it goes deeper than that, as multiple people interviewed – and Mowl himself – share a great deal about the relevance of communicating with Deaf children on their level. Mowl’s daughter is the fifth generation in the family to be born Deaf, and that integral part of her identity is key to the film’s messaging, highlighting a disability that should be celebrated rather than corrected or ignored.

Graves shares his own perspective throughout the film about what he has encountered, and how he has seen parents of Deaf children who don’t know sign language and therefore aren’t able to properly communicate with and understand them. Being able to receive the wishes children have for the gifts they want is a privilege he doesn’t take lightly, and the elation they feel when they realize that this Santa Claus will be able to respond to their sign language is a truly wondrous reward. Graves’ passion is infectious, and it clearly has an influence on those who enter his orbit for even just a few minutes.

This isn’t a film that paints a completely rosy picture of its main character, diving into his history of drinking and anger that his adult daughter vividly remembers. Financial mobility is also a key factor in what he’s been able to do and not do, and, early on in the film, he details his two-part drive to the night shift security job he’s long held, working undesirable hours to ensure that he can make the money he needs and, in typical fashion, looking at the bright side of everything even though it’s likely not how he would spend his time if he was free to choose with no extenuating factors.

This film belongs to a subgenre of documentaries that spotlight human stories, not seeking to unearth long-buried secrets or call for massive social change but instead to show the simplicity of one man’s kindness and very specific calling. Christianity and Santa Claus’ relationship to Christmas barely factor into this film in any way, and playing this character speaks more to the natural warmth Graves embodies than any sectarian or religious leaning. Like its bubbly and lovable protagonist, this film is sure to put a smile on its audiences’ faces.

Movie Rating: 7/10